Iron Website and Web Design · 2022
Boatico Website
- A' Design Award 2022 Iron Winner in Website and Web Design
- Awarded April 15, 2022
- CLIENT: Boatico
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 17,152
- Verification code 28E163148A · Verify this award
About Boatico Website
Boatico is a modern yacht charter platform for sailors who search for safe and uncomplicated boat booking. Their mission is to help find the best solution for vacation. Project task was to create an unusual design for this niche, and convey emotions. Therefore, it was decided to use deep blue shades that are associated with the sea. The rounded corners of the elements are like rounded waves. Typography also reflects the essence of the project, condensed geometric font adds branding. All graphics are made in one style and one color palette, which creates the integrity of the project.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Boatico is a modern yacht charter platform for sailors who search for safe and uncomplicated boat booking. Their mission is to help find the best solution for vacation. Project task was to create an unusual design for this niche, and convey emotions. Therefore, it was decided to use deep blue shades that are associated with the sea. The rounded corners of the elements are like rounded waves. Typography also reflects the essence of the project, condensed geometric font adds branding. All graphics are made in one style and one color palette, which creates the integrity of the project.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The site is designed to be fully responsive: 4k resolution, laptops, smartphones, tablets and other devices. Available in the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, iOS and Android.
- Tags
- UX, UI, Website, Web design, Interface, Responsive, Yacht Charter, Platform, Alice K design
- Production Technology
- UX/UI design: Miro & Adobe Xd;
Image retouching: Adobe Photoshop;
Development: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, SQL. - Design Challenge
- Creating the first design is not the most difficult part of project development. The most difficult thing for me is constant analysis and improvements based on users behavior. Since after the launch of the project, you begin to understand what users need and what not. And as a result, you make changes to website many times.
- Project Duration
- First meeting with a client in September 2020 in Vienna, Austria.
The project started in September 2020 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Published on the web in January 2021.
Update July 2021 - until now. - Operation Flow
- The main direction of the site is booking one of 9000 yachts in 50 countries of the world.
Users can go to the search page. Then use filters, sorting, see the characteristics of the yacht and additional options.
Depending on the user device, the way of navigating the site changes. Top and bottom navigation on PC version. And a hamburger menu on mobile devices.
After the client has chosen a yacht, fill out the form, submit the documents and make the payment to book an amazing yacht adventure.
To organize a trip, the site has a section with routes for yachting, sorted by country. As well as tips from experts, FAQs, a blog and more. - Research
- 1. Before moving on to visual interface design, UX/UI designer Alice K conducted research on the target audience.. A separate group of users who are interested in relaxing on a yacht was taken, and a briefing was also held for past clients of the customer who had already booked yachts. An analysis of competitors' websites and applications was carried out in order to prioritize the future structure and functionality: what is needed and not needed for users;
2. After that, a sitemap, wireframe and prototype of project were designed;
3. Alice K and ITmaestro team moved on to visual design, development and animations;
4. The site has been tested for usability on different types of users (and on different devices), as a result of which errors were found and eliminated (in order of priority) that made it difficult for users to achieve the goal.
5. Since the Boatico website is constantly evolving, usability tests, system load, site loading speed, support for all popular devices and other important tests and studies are regularly conducted. - Inspiration
- Azure sea, yellow sand, yachts and amazing landscapes. All this about the Boatico project!
UX/UI designer Alice K has been professionally engaged in swimming for 11 years and of course, she is interested in sailing and relaxing on a yacht a lot. Is there anyone who would not be interested in this?:) So this project was very inspired from the first minute and Alice created it even in her free time. She wanted to convey all those feelings when you are at sea on a yacht. Therefore, deep shades of blue were used, modern styles and geometric fonts were supported.
For greater immersion in the project, Alice and ITmaestro team booked a yacht to feel all the same emotions. Raise the sails! Captain Ivo shouted! - Image Credits
- Freepik; Unsplash
Colors of Boatico Website
Grand Interview about Boatico Website
Unlike the client, I am not a professional in the yachting industry. However, I immersed myself deeply in the world of sailing, studying its aesthetics and atmosphere. The dark blue color was chosen to reflect associations with the depth and calmness of the sea, while the rounded elements symbolize waves and the fluidity of movement. This approach helped create a design that intuitively resonates with the maritime theme and evokes the right emotions in users.
For the visual language, I chose modern typography that reflects clarity and order, essential for functional design. At the same time, the soft lines and proportions of the fonts add a sense of friendliness and emotional appeal. Geometric elements, such as wave-like lines and shapes reminiscent of seascapes, establish a connection with the yachting theme, enhancing the atmosphere of freedom and adventure. All these elements were carefully balanced to complement rather than distract from the user experience.
Practical experience showed that users value the ability to quickly assess yacht availability, rental conditions, and additional services. This inspired us to make the booking process as straightforward and intuitive as possible, eliminating unnecessary steps. Additionally, we implemented filters and quick access to key information, ensuring that the navigation structure aligns with the real needs of renters, such as seasonality, route, and passenger capacity.
I made the maritime atmosphere a central part of the experience across all devices, from the color palette to the choice of imagery. For mobile screens, I adapted photos and other content to maintain their immersive effect while optimizing loading times. Interface elements were redesigned for compactness, ensuring that essential information remains accessible and the sense of space and freedom of the sea is conveyed even on smaller screens.
Through research, I found that users value quick decision-making and visual inspiration. This led me to adopt a minimalist design that doesn’t distract from the selection process and to incorporate large photos of yachts and routes. Surveys also revealed that convenient filters and quick access to key information, such as pricing and availability, are crucial. This insight influenced the simplification of navigation and the clear presentation of data.
The client and I approached the integration of expert information as part of the inspirational content. Tips and routes were presented in the form of short, easy-to-digest cards and interactive maps, allowing users to access relevant information without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, we made this content optional in the booking process to keep the focus on the site’s primary goal — yacht rentals.
One of the most surprising discoveries was that users often explore additional services, such as captains or water toys, well before selecting a yacht. This insight influenced the design: I redesigned yacht cards to highlight options and personalization more prominently. Additionally, our team noticed that many users return to compare options, so we improved the favorites feature and simplified repeat access to saved data.
I aimed to make Boatico not just functional but also inspiring for users. Practicality is achieved through a clear UX design with intuitive navigation and a straightforward search process. The emotional aspect is conveyed through atmospheric photos of yachts and seascapes, complemented by a warm color palette. At the same time, accessibility is ensured through responsive design and adherence to standards.
The information architecture of Boatico is built on the principle of «finding everything in one place» — a key to the future of digital travel platforms. I focused on presenting data logically: user-friendly filters, clear categories, and quick access to essential information. This approach enables users to navigate effortlessly, even through large amounts of data, setting a new standard for comfortable online tourism.
When designing Boatico, I aimed to make the user experience as simple and intuitive as possible. The primary focus was on enabling fast and convenient yacht searches in the desired location. I eliminated anything that could distract users from the main process, leaving only essential elements such as search, filters, and clear offer cards.